Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, I’m joined by Rob T. Lee, Chief AI Officer and Chief of Research at SANS Institute—a globally respected voice in cyber, AI, and education who also happens to be down‑to‑earth, funny, and incredibly relatable. Together, we unpack what the future of cybersecurity careers looks like in an AI‑driven world, and what it really means to lead through rapid, messy, exhilarating technological change. We get into: Why AI feels different from past tech shifts—and why anxiety, fear, and hope all show up at onceThe “framework of no” in cyber, shadow AI, and how leaders can move to a thoughtful “default yes” insteadPractical ways to balance innovation and cyber risk without killing creativity or pretending “risk zero” existsTechnical authenticity, vulnerability, and collaboration as real superpowers in AI + cyber workAI ethics, digital avatars, family stories, and the hard questions we must ask as tech evolvesPathways into cybersecurity, the power of role models, and why diverse, quieter voices are urgently neededIf you’ve wondered how AI will impact your job, your leadership, and your career path—or how to lean into this wave without burning out—this episode will give you language, perspective, and a few courageous next steps. About Rob T. Lee Rob T. Lee is the Chief AI Officer and Chief of Research at the SANS Institute, where he advises on AI governance and security. He authored the SANS Secure AI Blueprint and led the development of the SANS Critical AI Security Guidelines. With a career spanning the U.S. Air Force, NSA, CIA, and Mandiant, Rob pioneered digital forensics (DFIR) and cyber threat intelligence (CTI) and developed the widely used SIFT Workstation. Known for his contributions to cybersecurity education, he has trained over 100,000 professionals and is a sought-after speaker and advisor. Connect with us Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leerob/ Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbutler1/ Support the show Hey, listeners and tech enthusiasts! 🌟 If you've been enjoying our podcast and finding value in the insights shared, we'd love your support. You can: Take a moment to share this podcast with someone. Submit the interest form if you’d like to be a guest.Let us know how we're doing. We’d love to hear from you. Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.If you’re in a position to support financially, consider supporting via the Tip Jar, or Buy Me a Coffee. This podcast is a self-funded and how we give back, especially to underrepresented voices in tech and cybersecurity. Your support keeps us going and growing. Thanks for being part of this journey and our community! Stay connected! Sign up for the weekly newsletter, Courageous Circuits: https://tinyurl.com/wz8fepyc Looking for mentorship? Let's talk about what you need and how I may be able to help: Mentor Moments The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are personal and not reflective of any employer.
